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Liriano's comeback could net another honor

Liriano's comeback could net another honor

Liriano's complete-game gem 2:44

8/14/13: Francisco Liriano goes the distance vs. the Cardinals, giving up one run on four hits while striking out six for his 13th win

By Tom Singer
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Francisco Liriano's dominant performance Wednesday night didn't just wipe out the memory of that Coors Field aberration (10 runs allowed on Friday). The complete-game four-hitter also got him back into Cy Young Award talk. Coming against the Cardinals in a high-profile game with postseason implications, it did far more than merely neutralize the beating he took by the Rockies.

"Electric stuff. We would come back after every at-bat and check the video room, and this guy just never missed over the plate," St. Louis leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter said.

It may be tough for Liriano to get a word in edgewise in the Cy Young conversation with the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw being so dominant.

The Bucs' southpaw has a better shot at a truly unique accomplishment: Becoming a two-time Comeback Player of the Year.

That award became a formal MLB presentation only in 2005, but prior to that had been issued by The Sporting News since 1965. In that time, six players have managed to win it twice -- and only two in both leagues, as Liriano could.

Liriano first earned comeback laurels in 2010, for going 14-10 with Minnesota after a 5-13 season in 2009. Coming off a 6-12, 5.34 ERA season split between the Twins and the White Sox, he is a leading 2013 comeback candidate at 13-5, 2.68.

He'd be a shoo-in were there a Stopper of the Year Award: In nine starts following Pirates losses, Liriano has an ERA of 1.83, posting wins in five of the last six opportunities.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.